Boot for draft-animals.



PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

J. J. FITZGIBBON. BOOT FOR DRAFT ANIMALS.

APPLICATION IILBD JAN. 31. 1907.

IN VENTOR.

WITNESSES:

J n M ATTORNEY.

ORRIS 1:42., wmsumarorv, u. c

JOHN J. FITZGIBBON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BOOT FOR DRAFT-ANIMALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1907. 1

Application filed January 31, 1907- Serial No. 355.105-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. FITZGIBBON, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Luis,State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boots for Draft-Animals, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in horse-boots, and it consists in the novel construction of boot more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the-drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the lower part of a horses leg showing my invention applied at the ankle-joint; Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an inner face view of the boot; and Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The object of my invention is to provide a boot for draft animals which will afford a maximum degree of comfort for and protection against sores or abrasions resulting from the rubbing of interfering members or legs; one which will afford ample ventilation and access of air to keep the affected part as cool as possible; one which will not bear unduly against the sore, and one possessing further and other advantages better apparent from a detailed description of the invention which is as follows:

Referring to the drawings, L represents a horses leg to which my boot is applied. The latter is composed of a series of layers or annular disks 1, 2, 3 etc., the inner disk 1 being provided with an inner layer or cushion pad 0 of felt or similar soft material which is designed to pass around the sore or abrasion e as shown in Fig. 2. The layer 1 is furnished with straps or extensions 1, 1 which are passed around and secured to the leg as usual. The disks 1, 2, 3 diminish progressivelyin diameter so that collectively they form a conical ring or projection, the first two disks having central openings having outwardly tapering walls jointly forming a conical or tapering opening 8 whose outer bounding wall is in the form of a wire screen .or netting d which netting is interposed between the layers 2 and 3.

The several layers 1, 2, 3 are preferably of leather sewed together as shown (Fig. 4).

It will be seen that the screen (1 occupies a position substantially flush with the inner face of the outer disk 3, so that it is fully protected against any rubbing which the outer face may be subjected to by the boot on the opposite leg or member of the animal. At the same time the screen affords am le ventilation preventing undue overheating and perspiration of the parts, kee ing off insects and flies, and allowing at a times for full inspection of the sore 6.

Of course the boot may be made of a single piece or ring in lieu of the layers 1, 2, 3 as is obvious, the screen being secured in the proper relation by any suitable mechanical means. It is further apparent that the boot is not restricted in its application to animals, but its principle of construction may be applied to the human anatomy as well.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A boot comprising a perforated ring adapted to be secured about the affected part or sore, and having a ventilating screen located in the path of the opening or perforation thereof and adapted to protect the sore, said screen being removed a suitable distance from the exposed face of the ring, substantially as set forth.

2. A boot comprising a conical perforated ring adapted to be secured about the affected art or sore, and having a ventilating screen ocated in the path of the o ening or perforation thereof and remove a suitable distance beyond the exposed face of the ring, substantially as set forth.

3. A boot comprising a conical ring composed of a series of annular disks progressively diminishing in diameter and having a conical outwardly tapering opening extending through a portion of the thickness of said ring, a screen or netting forming the outer Wall of said opening, said screen being removed a suitable distance from the outer exosed face of the ring, a cushioning pad or ayer lining the ring and means for securing the boot in position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. FITZGIBBON.

Witnesses:

EMIL STAREK, MARY D. WHITOOMB. 

